Initiation apparatus.



E. DE MOULIN.

INITIATION APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.14, 1909.

Patented June 21, 1910.

ERASTUS DE MOULIN, OIE GREENVILLE, ILLINOIS.

INITIA'IION' APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 21, 1910.

Application filed September 1 1, 1909. Serial No. 517,667.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERASTUS DE MoULIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greenville, in the county of Bond and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Initiation Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in initiation apparatus and is designed to provide an apparatus which may be used in connection with initiation ceremonies of secret orders.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a means whereby the candidate is given the impression of traveling down a long incline at great speed with impending disastrous results awaiting him but which actually produces no bodily harm whatsoever.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a structure including an inclined track adapted to receive a wheeled chair or like support which is capable of sustaining the candidate in a seated position and provision is made for the upsetting of the chair backward and the simultaneous release of the chair so that it will gravitate along the track to the floor of the room within which the apparatus is located and by the momentum acquired will move along the floor of the room for a considerable distance. Provision is made for deceiving the candidate as to the distance traversed by the chair on being pulled up the incline so that the distance actually traveled both up and down the incline is greatly magnified in the mind of the candidate and furthermore means for igniting an explosive may be provided to confuse and startle the candidate.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which drawings,

Figure is a perspective view with parts broken away of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a detail view showing the action of the chair look when the chair is tilted backward. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the chair lock.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a support comprising two parallel tracks 1, which may be made of angle steel, and these tracks are normally supported in an inclined position by legs 2, secured to one end of the tracks, while the other end of the tracks may rest upon the floor of the room in which the apparatus is located. To give a broad support for the sustaining ends of the legs 2, the latter may be bent to form shortfoot members 3, and then continued upward from the foot members toward the track by connecting straps 4:, serving to brace both the legs 2 and the tracks 1, the ends of the strap members being riveted or otherwise secured to the tracks 1.

The tracks 1 may be rigidly connected together by cross braces 5, and an end brace 6 or any other suitable bracing arrangement may be provided. The legs 2 may be also connect-ed together rigidly by cross braces 7. The track structure is thereby made strong and rigid though light in weight. The structure also includes other legs 8 terminating at the lower ends in angle extensions 9 constituting the supporting feet, and these legs are connected together by suitable cross braces 10.

The-upper ends of the track 1 extend beyond. the legs 2 and are there connected to brace rods 11, having their other ends connected to the legs 8 near the feet 9. The upper ends of the legs 8 are connected by brace rods 11 to the ends of the tracks 1 where the latter are connected to the braces 12. The tops of the legs 8 are connected together by a rod 13, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear.

Carried by the upper ends of the legs 8 are journal bearings 14. for a shaft 15 which between the journal bearings carries a drum 16, and beyond one of the journal bearings this shaft carries a suitable crank '17. A pawl and ratchet locking mechanism for the drum 16 is indicated at 18.

' Secured to one of the journal bearings 14, preferably that remote from the end of the shaft 15 carrying the crank 17 is a toothed wheel 19 capable of being rotated by means of a crank handle 20, and the teeth of this wheel are engaged by a spring 21, so that when the toothed wheel 19 is rotated the snap of spring 21 from tooth to tooth will simulate the action of the usual pawl and ratchet locking mechanism provided for winding drums. The purpose of the winding drum and of the toothed wheel 19 wlth the spring finger 21 will appear hereinafter.

Hinged to the upper end of the tracks 1 are track extensions 22 having their free ends connected by a suitable brace 23 and these tracks are also connected at a point near the brace 23 by a cross bar 24.

Hinged to one end of the cross bar 24 and at the other end to the rod 13 is a jointed bar 25 have a knuckle joint 23 at an intermediate point, so that the bar 25 when moved in one direction will be stopped when the two members are in alinement but may be readily flexed in the other direction. In order to flex the bar 25, there is provided a lever 27 pivoted to one member of the bar 25, and having the free end of one leg in operative relation to the other member of the bar 25 adjacent to the knuckle joint 26. The other end of the lever 27 may have a cord 28 secured thereto for the purpose of operating the lever but it will be understood that this cord may be replaced by any other means whereby the lever may be readily manipulated. The lever 27 may be replaced by any other means suitable for the purpose, the function of this lever being to cause the flexing of the jointed bar 25 when desired, and the movement of the bar after flexing in a direction to cause the two mem bers of the bar to fold one on the other. This will cause the movement of the track section 22 about its connection with the tracks 1, until the track sections 22 are brought into or nearly into alinement with the track sections 1, the free ends of the track sections 22 being then supported by the legs 8, and intermediate parts.

In connection with the parts already described, there is provided a chair 29 or other suitable support for upholding the candidate. The chair is provided with a suitable seat 30, and back 31 and arms 32 if so de sired, and alsov with a foot rest 33 and the seat and back and arms may be suitably upholstered or otherwise finished as may be found desirable. It is found best to have the chair upright when resting on the inclined track 1 when the candidate is first placed in the chair and for this reason the chair is provided with front legs 34, longer than the rear legs 35, and these legs may be connected together by longitudinal members 36 strengthening this portion of the chair. Beneath the front legs 34 the chair is provided with rollers or wheels 37 adapted to the two track members 1, and extending from the rear legs 35 at an angle thereto are supports 38 for other wheels 39 like the wheels 37 and also adapted to the track members 1. Projecting from the upper end of the back 31 of the chair are supports 40 for other wheels 41, like the wheels 37 and '39, and adapted to the track-sections 22 and 1.

Atthe rear of the chair there is provided a cross member 42 having projecting therefrom a stud or finger 43 adapted to enter between two parallel ears 44 on the bar 24.

Capable of traversing the ears 44 is a pin 45 carried on one end of an angle lever 46 pivotally mounted on a suitable bracket fastened on the bar 24, and this angle lever is under the normal control of a spring 47 tending to maintain the pin 45 in the traversing position with relation to the ears 44 so that when, the stud or finger 43 is between these ears, the pin 45 will lock the stud to the ears, it being understood that matching passages are provided through the ears and through the stud for the reception of the pin 45. The end of the lever 46 remote from that connected with the pin 45 is suitably bent so that when the chair is locked to the bar 24 and the bar 25 is flexed so that the track sections 22 are caused to move toward a horizontal position, the free end. of the lever 46 will ultimately engage the crossbar 13 and be moved thereby against the action of the spring 47 to an extent suflicient to carry the pin 45 from engagement with the stud or finger 43 thus releasing the latterfrom its lock relation to the bar 24.

In order to move the chair 29 from its lowermost position with relation to the track I 1 to a position at the upper end of track 1,

there is provided a rope or strand 48 connected at one end to the chair and at the other end carried around the drum 16 so that by turning the drum by means of the handle 17, the chair may be drawn upward along the track 1.

The term chair has been used to designate the carrier for the candidate and in the drawing this carrier is shown in the similitude of a chair. It will be understood however that the carrier may be otherwise shaped or constructed and the term chair is to be understood as including any structure which will serve to carry the candidate and perform the functions desired.

Let it be assumed that the device forming the subject matter of the present invention is installed in a lodge room and that it is to be used in initiation ceremonies. The candidate is seated in the chair 29 while the latter is at the lower end of the track 1. The rope 48 is secured at its free end to the chair 29 and the drum or Windlass 16 is rotated to cause the movement of the chair up the track 1 until the rollers 39 and 41 are brought into engagement with the track sections 22 which operate as a stop for determining the upward movement of the chair. This movement of the chair up the track 1 may be slowly performed to impart to the mind of the candidate, who is, of course, blindfolded, the impression of traveling for a long distance. In order to heighten the delusion, the tooth wheel 19 is turned at the same time the chair is moved upward along the track 1, and the speed of rotation of the wheel 19 is such as to cause a rapid succession of audible clicks thus imparting to the mind of the candidate the idea that the movement of the chair is rapid and prolonged, and that the distance traversed is far in excess of the actual travel of the chair. Now by a proper manipulation of the lever 27 the bar 25 is flexed and the track section 22 together with the chair is turned about the pivot point of the track, carrying the latter together with the chair toward a horizontal position. This movement of the track sections 22 causes the chair to incline sharply backward and the candidate to assume a recumbent position with thehead low and the feet in the air. By a proper arrangement of the lever 46 the chair may be released from engagement with the bar 24 at any desired point in the backward movement of the chair, the rope 48 having in the meantime been disconnected from the chair or the drum 16 having been released from the locking pawl of the pawl and ratchet mechanism 18, and then because of the action of gravity the chair will proceed to roll down the track toward the lower end thereof with increasing rapidity and will finally leave the track and roll along the floor a distance depending upon the acquired momentum. Now because of the pre-impressions on the mind of the candidate and his helpless position, the candidate has the further impression of moving with great rapidity toward unknown and imaginary dangers, which last impression may be augmented by causing an explosive to be fired at any suitable point in the run of the chair, say as it reaches the bottom of the track. For this last purpose a blank cartridge or other explosive device may be located at the lower end of the tracks 1 in a suitable holder, merely indicated as 49 without any attempt at showing details of construction, since there are numerous known devices for the purpose. Such device may be engaged by a part of the chair as it moves along the track after having been released.

It will be noted that, in the embodiment of the invention shown, the wheels 39 serve partly to support the chair both in vertical position and in horizontal position thereon, and that said wheels also form a fulcrum point for the chair in its pivotal movement from the vertical to the horizontal.

While in the foregoing description a specific form of locking device for holding the chair in the elevated position has been set forth, it is to be understood that the invention is by no means limited to this particular locking device but that other locking devices may be substituted therefor. Nor is the invention limited to other details of construction shown and described, but various changes may be made in the structure so long as the salient features of the invention are retained.

Because of the sectional character of the supporting means for the chair, such supporting means may be readily contracted so as to occupy materially less floor space when stored away or out of use than when in use.

hat is claimed is 1. In an initiation apparatus, an inclined track or runway, a track section hinged to the upper end thereof and having a range of movement from an upright position to an inclined position, and a carrier for an initiate adapted to said track.

2. In an initiation apparatus, an inclined track or runway, a track section hinged to the upper end thereof and having a range of movement from an upright position to an inclined position, and a wheeled chair or carrier movable along the track in either of two positions.

3. In an initiation apparatus, an inclined track, and a chair or carrier provided with means for supporting it on the track in either an upright or inclined position.

4. In an initiation apparatus, a chair or carrier provided with a set of supporting wheels for carrying the chair in an upright position and other wheels for supporting the chair or carrier in a position at an angle to the upright position.

5. In an initiation apparatus a chair or carrier having a set of wheels at the front and at the rear for maintaining it in an upright position and another set of wheels at the back in spaced relation to the rear set of wheels for maintaining the chair with the back lowered, the set of wheels at the rear being at an angle to both the front set of wheels and the set of wheels in spaced relation to the said rear set of wheels.

6. In an initiation apparatus, a chair or carrier having sets of wheels at the front and rear for maintaining it in an upright position and another set of wheels at the back spaced from the rear set of wheels and co-acting therewith for maintaining the chair with the back lowered.

7. In an initiation apparatus, an inclined track, a track section hinged to the upper end of the inclined track, means for normally maintaining the hinged track section in an upright position, means for permitting the movement of the track section from an upright to an inclined position, and a chair or carrier having members adapted to move on the inclined track while the chair is in the upright position and other members adapted to move on the track when the chair is in a rearwardly tilted position.

8. In an initiation apparatus, a movable carrier for a candidate, means for causing the movement of said carrier, and means for imitating the sound of the movement of the carrier actuating means.

9. In an initiation apparatus, a carrier for the candidate, means for moving the carrier and means for imitating the sound of the carrier actuating means as though moving at a higher rate of speed.

10. In an initiation apparatus, an inclined track, a chair or other like carrier movable along said track, means for causing the movement of the chair or carrier up said track, and an audible means for imitating the sound of a Windlass and movable at any desired speed.

11. In an initiation apparatus, an inclined track, a chair or carrier movable thereupon, means for causing the movement of said chair or carrier up said track, and a means for imitating the sound of a Windlass comprising a toothed wheel movable at will and a spring finger or member for producing a clicking sound in imitation of a Windlass stop pawl.

12. In an initiation apparatus, a chair or carrier, a support for the same on which the chair or carrier may gravitate, means for holding said chair or carrier in an upright position at the upper limit of its line of travel and means for tipping said chair or carrier backward and at the same time causing the release thereof to gravitate along the support.

13. A chair carrier for initiation apparatus and the like having rotary supporting means on the bottom thereof for supporting it in upright position, and rotary support-' ing means on the back thereof for permitting movement thereof in upset position.

14. A chair carrier for initiation apparatus and the like, provided with three sets of supporting Wheels, one of said sets serving as a common set to act with either of the other two sets, for moving the chair either in upright or upset position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ERASTUS DE MOULIN.

Vitnesses H. C. DIEHL, C. H. DAVIS. 

